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TODAY (10 November) is the day we turn one-year old. Looking back, our journey would not have been successful without the support we got from our stakeholders. Being a 22-year-old aspiring entrepreneur then, I faced almost every challenge that majority of the aspiring entrepreneurs face. I had to take the courage and give the dream a life.
In June 2020, the Zimbabwe Media Commission notified us that our application for the Media House had been accepted. We started looking for an investor to put in some start-up capital in exchange for equity, with no success. No investor was buying an idea.
Three months down the line, with no investor showing up, we set things in motion and started a Website on credit considering that the website was a key resource to our business. A friend of mine, Blessed Chakubva accepted to set the website for us on credit and by the 30th of September, the website was ready for launch. On the 1st of October, we launched our website, blogging various entrepreneurial content on a daily basis. The targeted audience accepted us in the market, recording over 3,000 website visitors in the first month.
As someone who did not have a media background as I am a Metallurgist by profession, I had to enlist the help of media professionals like journalists and the one I started with resigned citing personal commitment. On the 27th of October, Caroline Chiimba came onboard as the Editor and up to date, she is still with us now as the Chief Editor. She gave life to the publication, and made it a Brand it is today. On the same date, later during the day, we received the exact amount we needed to fund the company, through another friend, Takudzwa Nyabereka, who is up to date one of the Non-Executive Directors of the company. Preparations began for the launch publication.
On the 11th of November, we then finally published our Launch Edition, which also received an overwhelming response from our audience. However, the struggles were not over, still after 3 months, we had not yet received any revenue, despite of all our marketing efforts. We only started getting revenue in February 2021 as we slowly established ourselves in the market. From then our revenue and brand has been growing rapidly, mostly because we employed an effective customer acquisition plan, inspired by the struggles we had faced in the first 3 months. Our customer acquisition plan was followed up by a customer retention strategy and currently our customer retention rate stands at 66.67%. Since then, we never stopped thinking of ways of developing our product and we have been growing in leaps and bounces.
Taking the company to the next stage, we are set to diversify our Magazine Portfolio by adding on other two Publications, which we believe are key to the development of Zimbabwe, these are The Mining Vision Magazine and The Agric, Food and Beverages Vision Magazine. These upcoming magazines, to be launched in early next year, pride themselves in their unique content strategy, content that is set to be a blueprint of industrial growth in both the Mining and Agriculture Industry; fostering innovation, sustainability and value addition. Yes, we still have many obstacles to overcome as a start-up, one being financing, but as a team, we are determined to push the vision up to the end.
The world has gone digital and Africa is slowly adapting. Our vision as a media start-up is to build communities with digital footprints around the globe. It is a matter of time, before we introduce some of our innovative ideas in broadcasting, podcasting, mobile applications and web-based services. We are forever indebted to your support and we pledge to make it our mandate to remain creative and innovative, to ensure that all our stakeholders are satisfied beyond their expectations.
Meet the team
Denzel Chimene, Managing Director
Denzel Chimene is the founder of Entrevision, a parent entity of The Entrepreneurial Magazine. He has a passion in entrepreneurship and believes that through it, we may be able to build a self-sustaining Zimbabwe. A metallurgist by profession, the 23year did not let that limit his business ideas but used that as stepping stone to broaden his horizon.
Takudzwa Nyabereka, Non-executive Director
Takudzwa Tonny Nyabereka is a Founding Member of The Entrepreneurial Magazine and currently seats in the board as Non-executive Director. Academically, he is a qualified Electronics and Telecommunications Technician, studied with the University of Zimbabwe.
Caroline Chiimba, Chief Editor
Being the founding Chief Editor of The Entrepreneurial Magazine, a brand that has grown over the past year under a great hardworking team is one of my greatest milestones in my career as a journalist and a communications professional. While telling stories through the written word had always been my passion, it gives me joy to put to practice all the practical experience I gained as a reporter for various established media houses in Zimbabwe over the past years.
Amanda Ellen Nicola Jojo, Staff Reporter
I love the shape of stories, sentences and creation of different words on a page. I have a passion of disseminating news of the day in the interest of socio-economic privilege. I am part of the Pan African Business Women’s Association media fellowship on the reportage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA). I am also part of the recent graduate fellows of African Women in Media and FOJO Media fellowship for gender and digital reporting program. In addition, I am a Public Relations Officer for Africa Online and Publications Library. The skills I am garnering are shaping me to become part of the movement that have a zeal to shift from stereotypical gloomy narratives about Africa. In the view of the fact that am still new in the media arena, I have a yearning and zest to write so as to communicate with the hearts and minds of the readers.
Ndanatsiwa Tagwireyi, Staff reporter
I am a passionate communicator with experience in broadcast, print and online media. I hold a Bachelor of Science Honors Degree in Journalism and Media Studies. The Entrepreneurial Magazine, CEO Africa Magazine, Young Miners Magazine, Ya FM radio and Masvingo Mirror contributed significantly in my media and communications journey motif. I am also the current Media and Communications Officer at CEO Africa Roundtable.
Thandeka Phiri, Design and layout
I am a 25-year-old graphic designer bred and nurtured by Bulawayo Polytechnic looking to create a name and leave my mark in the design field. My passion is to be a model graphic designer in our design field which is male dominated. I like to learn and create and be better than I was yesterday. My inquisitive nature helps push my love for art, creativity and design. The Entrepreneurial brand is a wonderful idea that is realising fruition, maturing and growing brightly as it offers a guiding light to those who may not be sure of how to conquer their restlessness and/or lack of motivation/direction amidst the covid era. It is a beam that aims to connect entrepreneurs’ country wide, as well as worldwide to the endless possibilities that globalisation has brought to our ever-changing world.
Yolanda Chirandu, Staff reporter
I am an ambitious, goal driven and zealous 24 year old lady. I am currently working towards my media and society Studies bachelor’s degree at Midlands state university currently attached at cassava smartech. Concerning The Entrepreneurial magazine, I believes it’s a magazine that is showing how successful and popular people got there. For the youths and aspiring entrepreneurs, the magazine is sending a message that it’s possible to get there at the same time showing how it has been achieved by others. I believe that where there is a will there is a way if you put your mind to something you can achieve it, and I am happy to be part of the team.
Blessed Chakubva, Website
Blessed Chakubva is a 23-year-old web developer. He’s the co-founder and lead web developer at AdsOnly Zimbabwe. His focus lately has been helping businesses get started on the internet by designing and building websites that are professional and clean, with a content-management system for their website that allows them to take control of their brand’s narrative. He developed The Entrepreneurial Magazine website and continues to attend to all website related issues.
Thabani Moyo, Sales & Marketing Rep
When I came across the prolific collection of The Entrepreneurial Magazine, I was enticed by the easy-to-read standard English and layout of topics which enhances a detailed step to step guide into the business world. I often like to go back for reference and recapture; the website enables this with ease. The Entrepreneurial Magazine brings together different sectors in one space which enables a wide networking base. My experience engaging with the Entremag team is priceless; am always kept in anticipation for more adventures. It is my goal to witness The Entrepreneurial Magazine launch to greater parts of the world.
